Posts by emeth

35

Are JW's scared of visiting apostate websites?

by yadda yadda 2 in

jw
friends

i believe they are.

i think it's their biggest fear besides dying at armageddon.. there's a saying that anyone who reads ray franz's books is never the same again.

i think many jw's secretly know that there is information out there that would almost certaintly seriously damage their truth in their religion, and they are terrified of it.. they would rather keep their heads firmly stuck in the sand than even take a peek at critical information that might begin a slippery slope leading to the collapse of their unique worldview.. jw doing their version of the islam prayer:.

emeth

@theredeemer you are right i did waste some time , but addicted no.

@Sloppyjoe i dont see the need to explain things (like the one you mentioned) to you or any other on this forum, since the answer is already known to all. God does not talk , elders are just human beings who try to do their best to lead a worldwide congregation. They do a great Job with wonderful results. They admit mistakes were made in the past and that certain interpretations of bible prophecy seems to be slighty different. Nothing new under the sun,.. people are not infallible and never were. The point is people who serve with a date in mind or thinking in a few years i go in paradise without dying are doing something wrong. They serve Jehovah with the wrong intentions. So instead of looking and trying to find mistakes in their interpretation one could better look at the good things they accomplish.

I prefer to do that. Thanks to those brothers of the governing body i wake up every morning with a smile and every week i have a few moments that urge me to thank Jehovah for this wonderful brotherhood, organisation and 'spiritual paradise'. I feel lucky , blessed and happy and would recommend it to everyone one.

Now i leave this topic for what it is.

35

Are JW's scared of visiting apostate websites?

by yadda yadda 2 in

jw
friends

i believe they are.

i think it's their biggest fear besides dying at armageddon.. there's a saying that anyone who reads ray franz's books is never the same again.

i think many jw's secretly know that there is information out there that would almost certaintly seriously damage their truth in their religion, and they are terrified of it.. they would rather keep their heads firmly stuck in the sand than even take a peek at critical information that might begin a slippery slope leading to the collapse of their unique worldview.. jw doing their version of the islam prayer:.

emeth

@Emery 'Crisis of Conscience' dutch translation. I thought about destroying it but kept it because guys like you always tell me i should read the book of Franz cause it would change everything. So if i tell them i have read it they dont believe me. So thats why i still have it. I had it long before i became a witness and for the last 6 years its collecting dust.

@splash Its my belief that people who keep combatting a religion they belonged to years or even decades ago and seek contact with other people who do the same are not showing a healthy behaviour. Yes i was aware of this forum for many years but did not read much, and did not participate. Reason why i signed up is because it enables me to pm certain members. But one of them already left few days ago. And i'll be leaving soon too. Comments i made so far are not about doctrines but were more general .

Have a nice evening

35

Are JW's scared of visiting apostate websites?

by yadda yadda 2 in

jw
friends

i believe they are.

i think it's their biggest fear besides dying at armageddon.. there's a saying that anyone who reads ray franz's books is never the same again.

i think many jw's secretly know that there is information out there that would almost certaintly seriously damage their truth in their religion, and they are terrified of it.. they would rather keep their heads firmly stuck in the sand than even take a peek at critical information that might begin a slippery slope leading to the collapse of their unique worldview.. jw doing their version of the islam prayer:.

emeth

@yadda yadda

It took some time before i could post this answer because as a newbie i am limited in postings per day.

I was a guest at 'Satans Table' for almost my whole life,.. it started when i was 14 years old or so and ended when i was about 40 years old.
I have the book of Franz here on my bookcase in my room (had it long before i became a Witness) and am familiar with this website longer than you are a member.

I dont feel the need to read every topic here and have better things to do than hanging around for years on a website with people who clearly have some sort of problem. Till 2008 i was , what some people here call, an 'independent and critical thinker'. And i did read all the pro's and con's. I did read about everything i could find on the internet. After doing that , and studying it, i decided to become one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Anyway your challenge does not change what i have said. You all look like a bunch of amateurs that are divided and have nothing to offer except for emptiness and chaos. I have chosen for a group of people that have produced some fruit i dont see among other groups. I already showed you the example of conscious objection against bloodshed, war, nationalism, killing etc etc.

This is my final statement in this topic since reading or discussing more is just a waste of my time.

Kindest regards,

Emeth (the Netherlands)

35

Are JW's scared of visiting apostate websites?

by yadda yadda 2 in

jw
friends

i believe they are.

i think it's their biggest fear besides dying at armageddon.. there's a saying that anyone who reads ray franz's books is never the same again.

i think many jw's secretly know that there is information out there that would almost certaintly seriously damage their truth in their religion, and they are terrified of it.. they would rather keep their heads firmly stuck in the sand than even take a peek at critical information that might begin a slippery slope leading to the collapse of their unique worldview.. jw doing their version of the islam prayer:.

emeth

No they are not scared but wise not to waste their time and being disloyal. Besides that apostates have nothing to offer. They have no 'spiritual paradise' or peace loving people all over the world who do not join in wars, go to prison as conscious objectors just because they dont want to kill other people etc etc.

See for example the figures from South Korea,.. taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscientious_objector

From 2000 to 2008, Korean Military Manpower Administration said that at least 4,958 men have objected to service in the military because of religious beliefs. Among those, 4,925 were Jehovah's Witnesses, 3 were Buddhists, and the other 30 refused the mandatory service because of conscientious objections other than religious reasons. [ 58 ] Since 1950, there have been more than 16,000 Jehovah's Witnesses sentenced to a combined total of 31,256 years for refusing to perform military service. If alternative service is not provided, some 500 to 900 young men will continue to be added each year to the list of conscientious objectors criminalized in Korea.

And this picture is the same in every country. A tiny bit of other kind of people are willing to go to jail or face punishments 96% of the people is JW. It shows that Jehovah's Witnesses are peaceful and practise what they preach. They practise what they preach on many different things. Apostates look like a bunch of amateurs who can offer nothing except for emptiness and chaos, besides that there is no unity among apostates.

122

Can the jw organization be reformed?

by wannaexit in

jw
friends

i know that this has been discussed in the past but i wanted to get some fresh opinions.

there are many out there that recognize the "rot" that is in watchtower but still feel that there is a "wholesome" side to it and are trying to bring about change or reform from within.. in 2002 when the rose colored glasses came off for me and i truly started to understand ttatt, i still felt that there was some redemable aspects of the organization.. i felt that russell had some doctrinal things right.

i don't feel like that anymore.

emeth

@wasblind its just a saying meaning if things go well there is no need to reform or change the strategy. And, i know many here dont want to hear it but seen from our perspective things go well

63

If you want to show a JW some of the older publications from a non-apostate and 'safe' website..

by The Quiet One in

"it is appreciated that these documents do not reflect the current understanding of the bible enjoyed by jehovah's witnesses, and for up-to-date information the reader is encouraged to visit the official site of the watchtower bible and tract society.".

http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/.

emeth

@wasblind if he was baptised and just left the religion not much would change... since fading away does not cause you to be disfellowshipped. And since i let him grow up and let him really make a choice based on understanding the consequenses of his descision and the value/responsibilities of getting baptised i dont think there will be a great chance that he would be disfellowshipped.

But if it would happen i would maintain certain familyties and try to get him back in the truth. It would also be important to me if he becomes Anti-JW or not. If he did i would reduce contact to a certain minimum that is needed to maintain family affairs.

63

If you want to show a JW some of the older publications from a non-apostate and 'safe' website..

by The Quiet One in

"it is appreciated that these documents do not reflect the current understanding of the bible enjoyed by jehovah's witnesses, and for up-to-date information the reader is encouraged to visit the official site of the watchtower bible and tract society.".

http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/.

emeth

@wasblind no he is not baptised. I was not baptised eighter when i was a teenager and lived a very worldly life till i was 38 yrs old. My son is now almost 18 and till he was 13 yrs old he was not brought up with 'the truth'. Since 2008 i started studying again with Jehovah's Witnesses and made a slow return. At first i asked my son to join me to the KH during the public talk and watchtower study.

And during 2009 he did come with me every now and then. That year i became unbaptised publisher. In 2010 we moved to another city and another congregation with more youth and relatives. He started to come every watchtower/public talk meeting. After i got baptised he did join me once every 8 weeks or so at the other meeting (dont know the english name for it) where we do our congrational book study, the theocratic ministry school and Kingdom Ministry leaflet. Since July 2012 he did go to every meeting , so two meetings a week, and never misses one. Since end of 2012 he participates (without me ever having pushing him) and make comments or give answers.

Ofcourse i am encouraging but i also want him to do it because he wants it.. so i am patient. And as long as everyone sees he is making spiritual progress (which is obvious) there is no need to encourage him more.

It took me several decades to get baptised.. but i took the descision because i was sure of what i wanted. I want my son to do the same. Not that i mean that he must wait for decades but i want him to be sure. By the way the average age on which people get baptised here (the Netherlands) is a little bit higher than in other parts of the world.

122

Can the jw organization be reformed?

by wannaexit in

jw
friends

i know that this has been discussed in the past but i wanted to get some fresh opinions.

there are many out there that recognize the "rot" that is in watchtower but still feel that there is a "wholesome" side to it and are trying to bring about change or reform from within.. in 2002 when the rose colored glasses came off for me and i truly started to understand ttatt, i still felt that there was some redemable aspects of the organization.. i felt that russell had some doctrinal things right.

i don't feel like that anymore.

emeth

There is a saying .....Never change a winning team. There is no need to reform

63

If you want to show a JW some of the older publications from a non-apostate and 'safe' website..

by The Quiet One in

"it is appreciated that these documents do not reflect the current understanding of the bible enjoyed by jehovah's witnesses, and for up-to-date information the reader is encouraged to visit the official site of the watchtower bible and tract society.".

http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/.

emeth

@Caliber as a matter a fact my son dated a ´worldly´ girl for about 10 months during 2012/2013. She visited us a frequently and we did invite her for dinner with us. They broke up last July. During the time he dated her (which was no secret to anyone) there was no change in the way brothers and sisters in the congregation behaved towards him.

At the same time i have spoken a few times with him and told him about my own experiences with ´worldy´ girls and that its easier when you befriend someone who believes the same things and upholds the same values.

My son starts his higher education after next summer, and ofcourse i pay his education. His aim is to become a highschool teacher in a few years from now.

63

If you want to show a JW some of the older publications from a non-apostate and 'safe' website..

by The Quiet One in

"it is appreciated that these documents do not reflect the current understanding of the bible enjoyed by jehovah's witnesses, and for up-to-date information the reader is encouraged to visit the official site of the watchtower bible and tract society.".

http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/.

emeth

i brought up Caleb to tease you

About free choice and religion i already gave you two examples .. myself when i was a teenager and my eldest son of almost 18 years old. We both are/were free to do and decide what we want(ed)

Furthermore i think that a lot of children around the world of Calebs age have things decided for them by their parents, kids have to obey their parents. That is the way adults all over the world raise kids.